Swimming Myths

Excellent versatility! But, taking pity on the poor sprinters... I'm sure most here would agree that 50's are less PAINFUL but not necessarily EASIER to do well. In fact, my main problem with 50s is that 1-2 mistakes can make such a huge difference in a race, whereas in races of 200+ that is less likely to occur. In other words, 50s and even 100s are less "forgiving" races, meaning you probably need greater mental focus at race time. In longer races you can rely on training to cover sloppy, unfocused races. (Of course, even better is to be both focused and fit.) And training for speed is not easy either. I have reluctantly included 50s in my races simply as a way to improve my 100s. I find that improving longer races can be easier -- just up the yardage -- while improving speed can be difficult. (Poking fun at sprinters is probably a holdover of my college career when they used to get out 30 min before the distance folk, with whom I often trained. Plus their pre-race "pump-up" rituals are sometimes just so weird, it makes them easy targets!) I really agree on sprint training. We'll usually do a distance set and the switch to sprint and I feel like I'm about to die. It's sort of like prolonged moderate, sick to your stomach pain (distance) or severe, intense, short pain (sprint.) Pick your poison. I find it easier to focus intensely for sub :30 seconds as opposed to moderate focus for 5 and 18 minutes.

I'm curious if the effects that study proposes still occur even if the body part isn't exposed to the water? I.e. if I wear a legskin, but shave my legs, will there be further lactate reduction than what was just from muscle compression.

seems to imply that even if one wears a body suit, that shaving can still have significant benefits. I would think it would depend on the mechanism. The article quotes someone who speculates that shaving reduces stimuli to the nervous system, and this is the reason for the performance enhancement. This hypothesis was not tested, but IF it is true then it seems to me that the suit would replicate that effect with or without shaving. I can see what the person is saying, but after shaving I always simply felt faster, even in warmup. I didn't feel "isolated" from the water in the same way as I do with the technical suits. On a practical note...for me, a major benefit of the suit is reducing the amount of shaving that needs to be done!

On a practical note...for me, a major benefit of the suit is reducing the amount of shaving that needs to be done! This is true, but don't you sort of miss that feeling you get the first time you dive in after shaving? You just feel so slick and smooth in the water. Actually a lot like what the Speedo athletes reported feeling like when wearing the LZR suit. I guess you can duplicate the feeling of a good shave now by plunking down a mere $550 :)

Quote: Originally Posted by Jayhawk forums.usms.org/.../viewpost.gif At the Missouri Grand Prix last weekend, Aaron Piersol wore a nose clip during his 200 Backstroke swim. Anna Lea That's too funny. Seriously though, you think he'd have overcome the use of a clip in the years of practice. when you want saltwater up your nose and not chlorine... you wear a noseclip! Bring on the green monster! Being tubed is the way to go. Thanks Aaron for keeping surfing in the swimming limelight!

I guess it all boils down to how important those times are to you.

I have read several articles that say shaving increases sensitivity.For me shaving cut about 1 sec/100.As I have won and lost races by .02 sec,1 sec is an eternity. Myth,breaststrokers walk like ducks,Oh wait we do.:groovy:

What is the earliest age to allow for shaving down? My 10 year old son is .4 off of his 50 Free zone time, 1.5 off of his 100 time, .3 off on 50 back, and .2 50 fly. He has been growing his head hair since August, he has shaved his head, on his own choice in the past, for 3 large meets. He usually drops time with the head shaved, but I am hesitant to allow him to shave down the skin at age 10. I say no. But, any info out there on how early swimmers do shave down?

For that age group a little milk and a cat is all you need. :rofl: :rofl:

For that age group a little milk and a cat is all you need. They used to say when we were young, if you don't have enough whiskers to shave a little milk and a cat can lick it off.